Film Openings - Genre Specific Analysis

Our chosen genre is Thriller, therefore we chose to analyse the thrillers: 'Arlington Road' and 'The Usual Suspect'

'The Usual Suspect'

The opening title sequence for 'The Usual Suspect' starts with a empty black screen, a few seconds after the non diegetic music starts. The music is slow, eerie orchestral music, straight away we are presented with mystery and darkness. This type of music is typical of genre thriller. The titles slowly fade in , in block capitals and fade out in a light blue they stand out but give a simple bold effect, however the music is the main element that that audience can focus on. By this point the audience can establish that the tone of the film would be very dark and sinister and typically a thriller.

As the titles continue, in the background we see a vile on light reflected on water moving across the screen. As the titles go on; more and more viles of light appear, again moving. This effect could be interpreted as an enigma, the audience do not know what is causing the light, however from the music we automatically assume its something 'evil'. This is the only thing we see in the title sequence, the fact that we only see this effect and darkness; in itself could suggest that the film has a very dark narrative.

Towards the end of the title sequence the time and place of the film is set. This sets the scene and gives the audience an understanding of what is happening at the start of the film.

After the time and place is set, suddenly we see a close up of a bunch of matches being lit. . This effect is sudden and contrasts to the slow, dark sequence beforehand. This could suggest there might be an element of shock and suspense in the film, features typical to a thriller. Also as an audience we associate fire with danger which could further highlight clues on narrative themes set up in this opening. The Diegtic sound of the matches is also used to set the scene, the non diegetic music is faded out. This signifies to the audience that we have started the narrative.

The final shot is a 'reversed match on action shot' we see a medium close up a man lighting a cigarette with the match. The lighting is very dark in this shot, only natural light is used. The opening shot is also set at night, all this is typical to a thriller genre, the audience are brought into a 'spooky'. Diegetic bell chimes are playing in the background, adding a eerie affect to the shot. Consequently, a burning fire sound is also playing and we see vague flames in the background. This could add to the earlier idea of danger.

The character shown is wearing dark clothing, and looks scruffy which could indicate or enforce the common theme of darkness and evil. Typically in thrillers an 'evil' character is often dressed in dark clothing to make them look sinister.

'Arlington Road'

'Arlington Road''s opening titles begin with a man shouting about a young boy as he makes his way down a hospital corridor .He is wearing a blood-stained white shirt and looks distressedbut not dangerous, unlike the stereotypical creepy character you would get in the  opening of a thriller, we are presented with this ordinary looking man, who is showing concern for the boy. There is missing information of how he got blood on his shirt, who is this boy and what exactly happened? This establish's the genre as a thriller. We are left with the man shouting at the nurse, 'I don't know his name!', which then heightens the mystery surrounding this character. This is a prime example of how Barthe uses his clever theor of enigma code. We as the audience, just like the man, want to know his name and his story. 

The titles take a more traditional sinister approach,that you would expect from a thriller film. The white picket-fence is typical to an American Neighbourhood, however it is in harsh - colours black and red, colours we would associate with danger, violence and blood. The camera effects used throughout help to set a mystical mood. Cleverly they have taken everyday neighbourhood objects, and turned them into spooky, unnatural things. These shots again show what would be an ordinary looking neighbourhood, but in black and white ; however the black and white roles have also been reversed, normally with this effect, the sky would be white and the house black, but by turning this on its head, its creates a rather spooky, scary shot. Again making every-day scenes of American life fit within the thriller genre. 

 Shots of children are used repeatedly throughout this opening sequence, suggesting to the audience that young children might  be a theme that occurs within the film. However the young children are not shown in a positive way but instead as dark and creepy. Camera effects enhance this. At one point we are shown close up shots of little girls running looking back at the person holding the camera, and then it cuts to a shot of two empty swings moving, as if someone has just been playing on the swing and then they were taken or snatched. This also used Barthe's theory of engima code, we ask ourselves why is the swing empty? Who are these children? What is there purpose? The empty swing especially re-enforces the idea, that something is lurking, waiting to take 'our' children, the things we hold most precious to us.

 

The scene with the man in the hospital uses both non-diegetic and diegetic music; the non diegetic music of the surrounding hospital makes it more realistic, whereas the rising of tempo in the diegetic music allows tension to build. Non-diegetic music is very stereotypical of 'Thriller' genre films, as it can unnerve the audience and help introduce them to the genre. The diegetic music used for the rest of the sequence is very creepy, unnerving and at times uncomfortable to listen too, the audience can clearly connate that this film isn't going to be a cheerful chick flick, but a sinister and dark film.

The titles are all in black and white, and sometimes, like in this example change from black and white, reflecting perhaps, how quickly people can change from one thing to another, or something not always being as it seems. The simple colouring of the titles doesn't distract from the  background images, however they still make enough impact to be noticed by the viewer. The font is very bold and square, there are no round edges to suggest playfulness, but only the blunt straight lines, conatating harsh elements to the storyline, which we as an audience expect, considering this genre